Popular Japanese Snack Foods

Japanese culture is fascinating to many Americans of European descent. We have found a love of all things Japanese, most especially the food! If you're looking for snack foods or party food with a Japanese flair, here are some great Japanese snack ideas.

Yakitori - A kabob that makes for a very popular snack or party food. It goes nicely with Japanese beer and Saki, and makes for a good casual dinner accompaniment.

To start with, soak your wooden skewers in water so that they won't burn.

Pierce and slide the chicken onto the soaked skewers. Stir up all the other ingredients in a bowl. Now grill the chicken on the skewer, basting it with a sauce.

Edamame - This used to be hard to find, but now that edamame has gotten popular with Americans, it's become more readily available in grocery stores.

It's easy to serve. You can have it out like a bowl of pretzels (complete with beer for football games), or toss it in a bag as if it were trail mix at eat it on the go. It's a good way to get kids to eat more vegetables. (But be careful if you're allergic to soy!)

First, wash your edamame completely. Then, fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add one tablespoon of salt to the water along with the edamame. Boil for three to four minutes. Drain, then add a dash more salt. Let the edamame cool, then store in an airtight container.

Sunonomo (cucumber and Daikon salad) - This is an excellent side for just about any meal, though it's also great by itself as a refreshing afternoon snack.

Peel the radish first before cutting it into thin slices. Cut the cucumber just as thinly.

Salt both vegetables and allow the salt to soak in for about ten minutes. Wash them off and drain well. Mix the vinegar and sugar and pour over the veggies. Let sit for at least fifteen minutes before serving.

Japanese snack food ingredients shouldn't be difficult to find. The Asian sections in American grocery stores have expanded greatly, and there are more Asian specialty stores opening all the time.